“A guilty soul is always troubled by its reflection."

Victor LaValle’s Lone Women is a masterclass in ramping up suspense until it reaches its apex. And what an apex it is.

Protagonist Adelaide Henry is a woman literally and metaphorically on the run. She seeks the solitude of the Montana wilderness, but soon realizes she can’t outrun her past… nor does she want to.

LaValle explores themes of identity, blood ties versus found family, and the ways in which systems are constructed to marginalize and oppress. The way that the mystery about the contents of Adelaide’s trunk is gradually revealed exceeded my predictions and expectations. This is a tale that I can see depicted on screen, which would be as visually stunning as LaValle’s text is striking.

If you want a book that will keep you guessing until the very end, Lone Women is definitely for you.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for generously providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Lone Women is the story of Adelaide Henry, who, after the violent deaths of her parents on their California farm, travels to Montana to make a fresh start. All she brings with her is a heavy, locked steamer trunk that carries a secret. The year is 1914, and Montana homesteads are being offered dirt cheap to those who can cultivate the land. Adelaide is a tall, sturdy, strong woman who is already burdened by the trunk's secret -- so building a new life on her new plot of land seems like something she is capable of. But she never could have anticipated the challenges she will face, the people who will come into her life...or what will happen when the trunk is opened for good.

Blending horror, historical fiction, literary fiction, and fantasy, Victor LaValle has created a vivid, haunting portrait of life in the western United States during the early 1900s. In gripping, atmospheric prose, in writing that is both literary and propulsive, he tells a harrowing story of survival and found family, a story featuring both the best and worst of humanity. Through a cast of diverse, unapologetic female characters, he touches on themes of feminism, racism, and wealth and privilege, exploring the idea of freedom in fascinating, inventive ways.

And LaValle does all of this in a narrative that is absolutely engrossing, that grabs you from its violent opening and doesn't let go until its perfectly-executed conclusion. At first I was reading just to know what was in the trunk, and then when I found out, this story went in directions I could never have predicted, with several well-timed twists and reveals. It kept me so engaged.

Lone Women is my favorite read of the year so far. It's flawless. One hundred percent perfection. No notes. Thank you so much to NetGalley and One World/Random House for the advance reading opportunity.

I love Victor LaValle and I look forward to everything that he writes. It is no surprise how excited I was to learn that the following up novel to The Changeling was going to be a historical horror novel set in the American west. I know that westerns and horror have been popular lately (see Death Head’s Press’s Splatter Western series), so I was really excited to see what LaValle would bring to the table.

I thought of the movie Airheads when the title was revealed, the 90s comedy starring Brendan Fraser and Adam Sandler. Their band was called the Lone Rangers, and someone made the comment of how can they be "lone" if there are three of them? I started this book with this same question in my head. How could they be "lone" if the title refers to "women"? It is discovered that "lone women" refers to homesteaders in Montana, particularly single or widowed female homesteaders who traveled to Montana to cultivate the land. Adelaide Henry shows up from California to stake her claim, carrying nothing but a steamer trunk that is almost too heavy to move. There are secrets inside the trunk. secrets that Adelaide and her family have spent her lifetime trying to hide. Now that she is out in a land of endless isolation and wind, the only thing that she can do is face her past and her secrets.

LaValle might be talking about “lone women” being those single homesteaders who are working the land to make a life of their own, but the “lone women” element also refers to the differences between Adelaide as an African-American homesteader and the way the white women in the nearest town of Big Sandy treat her and the other few minority women. The Reeds own the opera house and the entire town. Jerrine Reed leads the Busy Bees social club, and one of their commitments is promoting female ran businesses. One of the businesses is a new laundry service by Mrs. Metta Sterling and her son. The thing about this is the town already had a female ran laundry service, but the person in charge of that, Fiona Wong, happens to be Chinese. There is a fissure between the white women and the minority women in town. The minorities become their own faction, not only because they are are pushed away from the other women in town, but also because they do not seem swayed by the influence of the Reeds. These outcasts turn into “lone women” and band together to form their own close knit group. 

Lone Women does have enough different elements in it that keeps the story moving and interesting. This story is a fresh mix of not only horror but of mystery, adventure, and politics, but the freshness is heavily steeped in so many elements that are classic to horror. I love all of LaValle's novels. This is not my favorite one, but it is enjoyable and a very solid western horror.

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t read much historical fiction (unless it’s romance) and this book mixes in another genre I don’t read often but it was utterly engrossing. I wasn’t familiar with this author so the novel was quite a surprise for me.

I was pulled in very quickly both with the overall story and the allusion to the mystery of what was in the steamer trunk Adelaide was taking on her journey. All of the characters and their struggles were compelling and some I’d thought minor or irrelevant played very important parts in the story.

It was a strange and unusual book — these are good things — and I’m glad I was able to read it without knowing much about it which made the experience all the more unexpected.

This book started so strong! I loved the gothic mystery elements and the strong female BIPOC main character. However, I think the mystery inside the trunk was revealed too soon. I wish the suspense would have continued past the first half. It would have held my interest longer,

Thank you Victor LaValle, Random House Publishing Group - Random House, One World and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC e-book. I really enjoyed this book a lot. I was a bit nervous diving in since I had heard talk of it having a sort of sci-fi esq vibe but I was pleasantly surprised and it was a great mild horror story. Adelaide is our main character who has drug her problems and baggage across several state lines in a hope to start over but fate has other ideas. This book depicted history and really not much was missed in that department and made the story come alive.

This is a well written historical novel with a bit of horror woven in. I didn’t give it a higher rating because, frankly, I think that the horror was superfluous and detracted from the story of homesteading and surviving in 1910s Montana. I was more interested in the women and other townspeople than I was the “monster.” Even more so after the latino (?) couple are introduced who seem to know what the monster is, and yet nothing meaningful results from them being in the story. I can only assume that “one of the most anticipated reads of 2023” is due to the author’s skills and previous books and not the story. It is well written and I did enjoy the historical part of the story, I just don’t think the “monster” was necessary to add in.

I love books in the Western genre, but unfortunately rarely see representations of those who are not old white men, or white women written as stereotypes. "Lone Women" by Victor LaValle is a breath of fresh air in this regard. Adelaide is a 30-year-old Black woman who decides to strike out on her own with a giant trunk with a mysterious padlock. The novel opens with her leaving her previous home in flames and heading from the West Coast to Montana. There, she procures a cabin and tries to make a life for herself. But whatever is in that trunk won't let her let go of her past.

I liked Adelaide's friends, Grace, Bertie, and Fiona. I also like the antagonists of the book, The Mudges. I felt like all of the characters were well-developed and empathetically portrayed. Without giving too much away, a trans character is also in the book and has a positive support system, which I rarely see in literature. I also really enjoyed the horror aspect of this book, as the tension at the beginning of the novel about what was in the trunk was really effective. Overall, I recommend this book to people who want a Lovecraftian horror without the racism.

This was such a unique read for me! I went in blind other than knowing it was horror. I think I built the horror up in my head to be worse than it was. This book was more of a gruesome mystery. When Adelaide says goodbye to her dead parents, she heads off to Montana with a little bit of money and a very heavy trunk. She is starting her life over at 31 years of age. This takes place in the early 1900's and the story was very atmospheric. I was having anxiety over the conditions for Adelaide! This was educational - I learned about this time period, while also haunting and exciting. I was so curious to see what would happen. This had a little bit of a paranormal aspect to it which I'm not the biggest fan of but it was actually interesting in this case and I enjoyed it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. Opinions are my own.

Lone Women by Victor LaValle is a historical horror. Adelaide Henry carries an enormous steamer trunk with her. Kept under lock and key, she guards it with a nervous eye because when the trunk opens, people start to disappear. It’s 1914 and she is in trouble. Her secret killed her parents and she’s forced to flee her hometown. She makes her way to Montana where she plans to homestead. She hopes that the big blue skies and the empty land will be room enough to hide her horrifying secret. Adelaide is one of many “lone women” taking advantage of the government’s offer of free land for those who can cultivate it. As she makes friends with other women homesteaders, she rebuilds her life. Will her homestead be the place to finally find peace? Or will her secret be revealed?
Lone Women is my first book by Victor LaValle who is known for blending historical fiction with inventive horror and poetic prose. From the opening scene, I was intrigued by Adelaide’s actions. What could her secret possibly be that would lead her to flee from the only home she has ever known? When she arrives in Montana, she meets an eclectic group of people with secrets of their own. Some for evil, some for riches and some for self-preservation. There were twists and turns with every turn of the page. As secrets are revealed and Adelaide fights for her new life, the story takes readers on a strange trip. As I closed the final pages, I found it hard to describe this book. Overall, I enjoyed it. If you enjoy historical horror, I recommend Lone Women.

Lone Women will be available March 28, 2023 in hardcover, eBook and audiobook.

Ok. I do own a few @victorlavalle books, but I hadn’t picked one up yet until this one. And boy am I glad I did! Right from the start I was pulled into the story and found myself completely enamored with the main character, Adelaide. I have been hard pressed to find a female character that I really loved that didn’t seem artificial, but Adelaide is the total package. An absolute gem 🙌.

—-

“𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥: 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘪𝘵.”

It’s the year 1914, and Adelaide Henry is fleeing her hometown of Redondo, California, leaving two dead parents in her wake. Dragging an old steamer trunk along with her, she makes her way to Montana carrying a terrible secret inside.

Taking advantage of free land that the government is offering, she moves onto a small homestead where she tries to keep her secret locked safely inside. But one day it gets out, and a massive trail of destruction follows in its path.

“𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘸𝘭 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘦 𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴.”

—-

Historical fiction meets horror in this compelling new book by Victor Lavalle. It starts off ‘on fire’ and really just stays at a campfire pace after that, basking the reader in its radiant glow. The beautiful prose and flawless progression of the story, really make for a highly engaging read. I have high praise for this one and recommended preordering, or grabbing a copy when it comes out March 28th 🤩.

Here's a fun fact about me as a person: I would have absolutely died in the old west. Like, no question. Adelaide finds herself alone, dealing with her parents' deaths, which she feels responsible for, and decides to leave for California and head to rural Montana. This, friends, is where I would die. On the way, likely. Or maybe when I got to Montana and had to like, live off the land. Either way, I was in awe of Adelaide from the start. Even if I high key was suspicious that she may have offed her parents.

Anyway, make it to Montana she does, for she is not me. But man. The author does an amazing job of showcasing how isolating the west could be in the early twentieth century! What did they do all day? Cry? I would have cried. Sure, she has to "cultivate the land" or whatever, but it was just such a vast, vast place with neighbors few and far between. Adelaide meets some people, sure. Some were the neighborly sort, who would I guess come by every 6-8 weeks and check that you weren't a corpse. Others... well let's suffice it to say that Adelaide encountered a few people who made her past seem like the least of her worries.

So the mystery is twofold: One, what the heck happened to Adelaide and her parents back at home? What is she hiding? And why is she so desperate to keep it hidden? The second is that this whole town (county, maybe?) is messed up. Like there is something here that just seems off. And not just because of the isolated wilderness, no, it goes beyond that. And that is all I will say about that.

The story is very atmospheric, and definitely kept me interested and guessing throughout. I loved reading about powerful women on the frontier, trying to make their way and prove that they have the strength and will to do anything. I did feel a bit distant to Adelaide, but that might be because she had so many secrets to keep. All in all, it was a good one!

Bottom Line: Surviving in the west on your own is hard enough, but with secrets upon secrets, things get extra wild, and I am here for it!

I received an ARC for this book. I was intrigued by the description. Adelaide is a black homesteader in Montana in the early 1900’s. She has left California to use The Homestead Act. She brings with her few belongings and a large trunk, which she does not want out of her sight. The mystery is totally unexpected. I could not stop reading the book. I found it mesmerizing and unforgettable.

great book and such great characters. I enjoyed the mystery and some romance. I also enjoyed the journey of the characters. I didn't know what to expect with this book but I enjoyed it .

[4.5 stars rounded up to 5]

Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for an e-arc of this book!

When I first read the description of this novel, I knew it was one I didn't want to miss. I'm so glad it lived up to the expectations I had!

<i>Lone Women</i> follows Adeline, who is moving from California to Montana to homestead. She leaves with little to her name, carrying only a travel pack and a trunk that she can't open, because if she does, she just might let something out.

That's really all you need to know about this novel. I recommend not knowing anymore.

I've been craving a good Western horror with a diverse cast of characters, and that's exactly what this is. The atmosphere of Big Sandy and its surrounding areas was perfect: the relentless wind, the isolation, the bitter cold, the ghost towns. It was all so good. The character work is also fantastic, and I loved the queer representation.

Everything about this just worked for me.

The cover to this book is stunning and the prose is beautiful. My issues are the plot holes. Two very specific bits if information are revealed about Elizabeth towards the end of the book but are never explained or expanded on. Those two plot points being explained would have pushed this to a 4 to 5 star for me. Not knowing has taken away from the story. The end feels rushed and I feel nothing is explained. I feel there is so much more to the end of this story and am disappointed we didn't receive it.

Having loved The Ballad of Black Tom and also The Changeling, I was thrilled by the opportunity to read a copy of Victor Lavalle’s new novel, Lone Women. It completely exceeded my expectations.

It’s the early twentieth century, and Adelaide Henry flees the homestead in California where she’d lived all her 31 years. She leaves with a secret locked in a steamer trunk, and attempts to establish herself on a homestead in remote area of Montana, a territory where single women can purchase a plot of land. Needless to say, not everything is what it seems, and what follows is an amazing tale that shines in a mix of horror and historical fiction. The characters, even the minor ones, are extremely well drawn and come to vivid life. Mr. Lavalle’s plotting is skillful, leaving no loose plot ends, even minor ones. I reveled in the excellence of the writing.

If Lone Women doesn’t become Victor Lavalle’s breakout novel, then there’s no justice in this world.

My many thanks to the publisher, and to Netgalley, for allowing me to read this wonderful new novel, scheduled to come out March 28.

This is a fusion of horror and historical-fiction--a reimagining of America's Wild West set in 1915. The first chapter grabs you immediately: Adelaide Henry, a 31-year-old black woman, leaves her family's California farm in a most dramatic and final way. She is taking some baggage with her in the form of a large, heavy trunk and is heading for Montana where she hopes to homestead some land of her own.

Montana is a frontier land where Adelaide and other women, as it turns out, can come for a fresh start. But so much is against them succeeding, including other settlers and Mother Nature herself. It turns out though that Adelaide's biggest problem (and her shame) is in the trunk she's brought with her...and secrets can always find a way out, to everyone's horror.

This is my first taste of Victor LaValle's writing but it won't be my last. He has a created a mind-blowing world where anything can happen...and does! I won't soon forget these women.

I received an arc of this novel from the author and publisher via NetGalley. Many thanks! My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

Title: Lone Women
Author: Victor Lavalle
Genre: Historical Fiction, Supernatural horror

My Review:

Lone Women is a novel that is so unique that it is very difficult to review it. Though it is a historical fiction with a horror element, this book can fit into many different sub genres.

The story is about Adelaide, but it's also about others. It's about the unknowns, about our fears, it's about finding our own strengths and it's about survival. There is so much packed in this book that it does leave a mark even after you are done with the book.

The pace of this book is excellent. Once you start the book, it's hard to put it down, but you definitely need to take a break because it's not an easy one. If you are looking for a book that is very different from other historical fictions, pick this one up.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and Netgalley for the book.

CW: blood, violence, mild description of confinement

Source: DRC via NetGalley (Random House Publishing Group – Random House, One World) in exchange for an honest review
Publication Date: March 28, 2023
Synopsis: Goodreads
Purchase Link: Amazon

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Why did I choose to read this book?

I have a soft spot in my heart for survival stories, and if there is an element of historical fiction thrown in there, well, I’m probably going to check out your book. 🙂 And if your story is about badass women too? GIMME

What is this book about?

A black woman has moved to Montana to stake her claim on land that is available after running away from her parents’ farm, which she has lit on fire on her way out (her parents’ dead bodies left inside the farmhouse!). All she carries is a travel bag and a giant trunk that contains an unknown that she is guarding with her life. Once she arrives at her claim she makes friends with the other women who are doing the same thing and makes friends, which becomes very important once the unknown from her trunk escapes and wreaks havoc.

More generally this book is about how, when you are alone you are never really alone. If you look around you, there will be others like you that you can join together with to become stronger. On the negative side, this book reminds us that we can never really escape our past – we can either die of shame or we can face it and become better people. It’s mostly about found family and you all know I’m a sucker for these kinds of stories too.

What is notable about this story?

I’m gonna do this one as a list.

Don’t trust rich people.
Don’t trust men.
Ask for help when you need it so people have the option to support you.
Accept and protect trans people
Accept and protect LGBTQIA+ people
Support friends when they are dealing with their shit
Gentrification fucking sucks (even in the early 1900s in rural Montana!)
Fuck around and find out (see also: be a ride or die bitch for your weird friend group)
If you search, if you listen, if you don’t give up, you will find home. You will find happiness.
Just because someone is a woman, it doesn’t automatically mean they are safe (see #1).
Just a very valuable story about learning who to trust and creating/protecting your found family.

Additionally this one is a very quick read. It has a wonderful level of tension that keeps you moving, but it lets you rest too, the calms between the storm.

Was anything not so great?

This book was truly a delight to read. I love a book that tricks me into following social norms and then makes me feel like a gullible asshole for falling into a false sense of security. I don’t have any critiques of this one – I zoomed through it and I wish there was more.

What’s the verdict?

5 stars on Goodreads. A well-written, important story about how we treat people on the fringes of “society” and why that is hurtful, wrong, and monstrous. As relevant today as it has ever been in this country (USA) that I call home. (Also side note: if you enjoy this one, check out The Four Winds by Kristen Hannah. It has a similar survival/historical fiction vibe.) Run, don’t walk, to your nearest library or bookseller on March 28th when it officially releases to get yourself a copy. You won’t be disappointed. Let me know in the comments what you thought after you’ve read it.